[wrx_canoe]

Thanks for the notes Gordon and Greg.

I ended up acquiring both the 7/8 and 9/10 17' Traditionals. They're about 6 years old.

Fantastic, light, smooth casting rods that force the user to slow down to let the rod do the work.

I christened the 7/8 rod skating a dryfly this past fall and brought to hand a couple of 10lb steelhead. I think it was the most incredible fishing experience I've ever had thus far.

I think the 85' Carron 10/11 on the 9/10 is a perfect match that i think would be hard to top.

That said I'm running a 7 wt. XLT on the 7/8 and wouldn't mind finding a long line with a little more aggressive taper for fishing in moderate winds. Any idea what available lines would be a good match for the 7/8 17' Clan Traditional?

Thanks in advance,
Preston

 

[wrx_canoe]

I think my 17' 7/8 is the same thing as oldschool's Royal Spey. The real benefit of this rod is that it can handle a true long belly line (e.g. XLT) and you still have a blast fighting 3lb fish as it will bend down to the cork...:smile2: It's the only 16'+ lightweight spey rod out there to my knowledge that excels with long bellies (never have nor will try a shooting head on it). It's amazingly light for a 17' rod. Cliché but it really does feel like a lightweight 15' rod...and then when you fish your 15' that rod feels like a 13 footer...:chuckle:

Thanks for the info. on the DT...
I was told that 900 grains was optimum on this 16'. I am not sure that I have pushed it to it's maximum yet. I do have a couple of Ian Gordon sinkers in intermediate and fast that are 10/11s. One of them is 65', the other is 75'. They're probably need to be pulled out and spooled up and cast again-I don't think I have tried them on this rod for some reason...maybe too many lines laying about.
You got me thinking about that 17' 7/8 Royal spey way too much already!:Eyecrazy:

Thanks, I think...
Tom

 

[wrx_canoe]

I got a note from Harry's wife last week that he was in the hospital with kidney stones. I hope everything is okay. Prior to that message Harry let me know that a handle modification I was inquiring about would be no problem to do.

 

[wrx_canoe]

I got an email from Harry today. He's back in action. He mentioned he has 30 blanks still in the 17'. Not sure how many 7/8s vs. 9/10s.

Interestingly he mentioned that his dad is Canadian! ...from North Bay, Ontario. I knew there's a reason why I liked his rods so much!

I would be seriously interested in that 17' 7/8 if I could get it in a blank, such cool rods!!!